McCullough, Monsignor Patrick
MONSIGNOR PATRICK MCCULLOUGH
November 25, 1948
Personal Info
- Date of Birth: 17 March 1871
- Place of Birth in Ireland: Ardkill
- County: Derry
- Education: St Columban’s College, Derry and St John’s College, Waterford
- Date of Ordination: 18 June 1899
- Place of Ordination: Waterford Cathedral, Ireland
- Ordained by: Bishop Sheehan for the Wichita Diocese
Diocesan Appointments:
- Assistant – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita – 10/18/1899 to 9/2/1900
- Pastor – St Mary’s, Moline with Neodesha and Fall River as missions – 9/3/1900 to 3/1/1906
- Pastor – Sacred Heart, Eureka – 9/3/1900 to 3/20/1905
- Pastor – St John, Hamilton – 9/3/1900 to 1906
- Pastor – St Francis Xavier, Cherryvale 3/2/1906 to 1/21/1911 with Fredonia as a mission – 5/6/1906 to 6/1/1907
- 1st Resident Pastor – St Mary’s, Parsons – 1/21/1911 to 2/23/1928
- Pastor – Our Lady of Lourdes, Pittsburg – 2/24/1928 to 2/20/1948
- Pastor Emeritus – St Mary’s, Parsons – 2/21/1948
- Chancery – Diocesan Consultor – 12/5/1923
- Raised to monsignor status
The papal appointment came to Monsignor McCullough because he is seen as “…an untiring worker, his outstanding achievement has been triumph over depression and coal strikes during which he led his congregation in paying off the parochial school debt, renovating and enlarging the church, purchasing a residence, installing a new church organ and making other improvements. For years, Monsignor McCullough has been a leader in parochial school work and is a member of the diocesan board of consultors.”
Monsignor McCullough, always concerned about the care and enrichment of children served as a director for the diocesan orphan board. The members of the board developed plans to build a new orphanage in El Dorado, Kansas. The cost of the St Joseph’s Girls’ home was estimated to be $85,000 in 1941.
The Knights of Columbus held an initiation ceremony for a class of 31 candidates which was attended by 350 people. Monsignor McCullough welcomed the entourage into St Mary’s church for Mass where he also delivered the sermon.
In the Wichita Eagle notifying the public of Monsignor McCullough’s death, the article recognized his efforts in Pittsburg where he was instrumental in expanding the parish, starting the local parochial school, which was developed into a full four-year high school.
Father Thomas Maher spoke at Monsignor McCullough’s funeral and highlighted his passion for Catholic education. He stated that no matter where the Monsignor was assigned, he always made education of the parish’s children a priority. Father Maher stated that the Monsignor believed that without a school, no parish could prosper.
- Date of Death: 25 November 1948
- Place of Death: Mt Carmel Hospital – Pittsburg, Kansas
- Age of Death: 77
- Cause of Death: Heart ailment
- Funeral Celebrant: Bishop Mark K. Carroll
- Burial: Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Cemetery (also known as Saint Patrick’s Church Cemetery), Hanover Township, Allamakee County, Iowa